Gas purifier



April 24, 1951 c. B. GAMBLE 2,550,463

GAS PURIFIER Filed Aug. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Char 63B. Gamble Cv B. GAMBLE GAS PURIFIER April 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Aug. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. C/ldr/fif 5, Gam/e Patented Apr. 24,1951 GAS PURIFIER Charles B. Gamble, Birmingham, Ala.

Application August 15, 1947, Serial No. 768,807

- 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a gas purifier of that type embodying anenclosed vessel containing a mass of purifying material through whichthe gas is passed, and has for an object the provision of apparatus ofthe character designated which shall provide an improved support for thepurifying material which shall be simple of design, economical ofconstruction, and which shall be permanently mounted within the enclosedvessel.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of discharging agas purifying chamber of the character described which comprisessubjecting the mass of material within the chamber to the explosiveaction of charges disposed within the mass, thereby to loosen the samefor discharge through a bottom opening in the purifier.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of discharging achamber filled with a solidified mass of material which comprisesplacing a series of explosive charges in holes drilled horizontally intothe mass and exploding the charges successively from the top to thebottom of the mass, thereby to loosen the same in generally horizontallayers, and then placing a series of charges in holes drilled verticallyin those portions of the mass not broken up by the first mentionedcharges, and exploding the vertically disposed charges, thus tocompletely break up the remaining large solidified masses of materialwithin the chamber.

As is well understood in the art to which my invention relates,hydrogen-sulfide is removed from gas by passing the same through a bedof iron oxide. In practice, the iron oxide is usually precipitated onwood chips, the oxide coated chips are loaded into a closed vessel, andthe gas is passed through the mass of coated chips. Heretofore in thisart, it has been the practice to support the purifying material onremovable trays or other movable supports so that when it becamesaturated with impurities removed from the gas, it has been necessary toenter and clean the material off the trays or supports, requiringconsiderable labor. In accordance with my invention, I provide a supportfor the purifying materials disposed within the lower part of the vesseland comprising one or more superposed frusto-conical rings ofprogressively decreasing diameter from the uppermost ring downward andspaced apart to provide passages for the gas between the rings. Theuppermost ring fits snugly within the vessel and is attached gas tightto it, while the lowermost ring extends close to the bottom of theenclosed vessel.

. Likewise, as is well known in this art, after a purifier has beenoperating for a considerable length of time, the mass of coated chipsforming the bed becomes solidified to the extent that its removal bymanual means is extremely difficult and arduous. This difficulty isfurther increased due to the fact that in operation the vessel'must beclosed, requiring that the removal operation take place through upperand lower manholes provided therein. Accordingly, it is a prime objectof my invention to provide an apparatus for purifying gases which shallhave improved operating and discharge characteristics over thoseheretofore existing, and to provide a method of discharging theapparatus by means of a plurality of horizontally disposed explosivecharges placed in the vessel and exploded successively from top tobottom of the solidified mass. After exploding the first charges, Iplace in the mass a second series of vertically spaced charges locatedon either side of a vertical plane passing through the first charges.These charges are exploded successively and the entire mass within theenclosed vessel is broken up into small pieces which may readily bedischarged through a manhole provided in the bottom of the vessel.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved purifying vessel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line IIII1I of Fig.1 and illustrating all of the horizontally disposed charges in positionwithin the solidified mass;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line VV of Fig. 1and showing two groups of the vertical charges in place; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIVI of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention,I show a cylindrical tank l0 having a top opening H with a suitableclosure member l2 and a bottom opening l3 with a suitable closure memberl4. A gas circulating conduit it connects with the upper end of thecylindrical vessel l0 and a gas circulating conduit I! connects to thelower end thereof. As is well understood, gas may enter or leave thetank by either of said conduits. A baflle Ilia is spaced from the innerend of the conduit Hi to prevent material in the tank from entering theconduit 16. The tank may be supported in any suitable manner as by legs[8.

My improved purifying material support consists of an upperfrusto-conical ring l9, and if desired additional frusto-conical rings2! and 22, disposed in the bottom of the vessel :0. The ring [9 fitssnugly within the vessel and has its upper peripherial edge secured tothe inner walls of the tank. The rings 2| and 22 if used, areprogressively smaller in diameter than the ring IS. The rings are inspaced relation with respect to each other and the bottom of the vesselthereby providing spaces for gas to pass between the rings into theannular space formed between the edges of the rings and the sides of.the vessel. The rings may be supported by means of a plurality ofplates 23 set edgewise with respect to the rings and having their upperends joined to the side of the tank and their lower ends joined to thebottom thereof as shown in Fig. 2. The

plates 23 are notched at 24 and 26 whereby the rings [9, 2i, and 22 fitsnugly thereagainst.

Along one side, the vessel It is provided with a plurality of openings2'5. Disposed in each of the openings 2-? and welded therein to thesides of the vessel are a plurality of short sections of pipe 2B,theouter ends of which may be threaded to receive caps 29. The top of thevessel is provided with openings '31 for receiving short sec tions ofpipe 32, which extend downwardly into the tank as shown and are threadedon their outer ends to receive caps 33. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4,there is a single row of the pipes 28 vertically aligned in the sidewallof the vessel 1-0. As'best shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6, four of the pipes32 are provided and the same preferably placed so that they arepositioned over the areas of the mass of material not broken up by thehorizontally disposed explosive charges, as will later be described.

In use, the purifying material is loaded into the vessel through theopening I l and up to the line 34 shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. Due to thefact that the purifying material used is rather expensive, I prefer tofill the bottom of the vessel In with some inert material such forinstance, as coke, up to the lower edge of the uppermost cone 19, if italone is used, or to the lower edge of the lowermost cone, if more thanone is used. It will be apparent that contact of the gas with the bed ofoxide begins orterminates at these points. Gas is now circulated throughthe conduits l6 and il, the same circulating either down through the bedor upwardly through the same, and, by the well known reaction, theimpurities are removed by the iron Oxide coated chips. When thepurifying material has become saturated with sulphur and otherimpurities removed from the gas, the bed of material must be removed anda new charge placed in the vessel I0, Upon opening the manholes of thevessel it will be found that the material has solidified into a verydense and hard mass, which, as indicated previously, is extremelydifiicult to remove with the ordinary hand tools. In accordance with mymethod, I remove the cap 29 from the upper pipe 28 and with an augerbore a hole 36 through the solidified material, the hole extendingsubstantially across the diameter of the vessel. Into this hole I placea group of explosive charges comprising a centrally disposed charge 31and other charges 38 and 39 disposed adjacent the peripherial edge ofthe mass. Between these charges I provide stemming 4|, and tamp the samein the hole. With the charges positioned able detonators I explode thesame. group of charges is exploded I drill another hole in the upperhole 36 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and using any suitable means such forinstance as electric blasting caps and a generator, not shown, I explodethe same. After the charges in the uppermost hole are exploded, I removethe cap 29 from the next lower pipe 23, drill another hole 36 into themass, insert another group of charges El, 38, and 39, and explode thesame. This operation is repeated until charges have been exploded fromtop to bottom of the mass. This series of explosions loosens a generallycentrally disposed core of material indicated by the dotted line 42 inFig. 4 extending from the top to a the bottom of the mass. After thesecharges are exploded, I drill a hole 153 beneath one of the verticallydisposed pipes 32 and place therein a series of charges 54, 4'0, and 41between which I tamp stemming 48. These charges are located within theareas not broken up by the charges previously fired and, through thesame of suit- After this 43 into the material through another of thevertical pipes 32 and insert a like group of charges 54, 46 and M, andfire the same. This operation is continued until groups of charges havebeen exploded in holes drilled beneath each of the pipes 32. Theseexplosions loosen vertically disposed cores of material indicated-by thedotted lines 50 in Fig. 6. It will now be found that the material withinthe vessel may be readily discharged by inserting hand tools through theopening l3 and working the same out.

By way of example, and not by limitation, the following is cited to showthe type and quantity of explosives necessary to accomplish thedischarge of a purifier which is 11 feet in diameter and having a bed ofpurifying material approximately ten feet high. The charges 3? consistof four sticks of 40% permissible powder and each of the charges 38, 39,44, 46 and Al consists of three sticks of 40% permissible powder. I havefound that placing charges of this quantity and strength approximatelyequal distance apart in the openings 36 across the diameter of the tankresults in very satisfactory breaking up of the material. Also, I preferto place the vertical charges M, 46, and ll substantially equaldistances apart vertically in the mass of material. Also, in firing thecharges 31, 3-8 and 39, I have found it advantageous to fire the centercharge 37 first and to fire the charges 38 and 39 with a time delay of 2and 4 /2 seconds, respectively. Likewise,,I prefer to fire the uppercharge 45 first, then after a delay of 2 seconds, charge 46, and charge'41 after a further delay of 2 /2 seconds.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedapparatus for purifying gas and an improved method for discharging thesolidified mass of purifying materials therefrom when necessary. I havefound that when using my improved method, no damage occurs to the vesselor to the conical rings at the bottom thereof, and that the material isbroken up into lumps small enough to be discharged through an aver-agesize opening in the bottom of the vessel.

Likewise, by using explosives of the order of 40% permissible powder, Ihave found that sympathetic detonation of the individual charges of thehorizontal and vertical groups does not occur.

In actual practice, I have found that an eleven foot vessel constructedin accordance with my invention may be discharged by my improved methodwith a fraction the man hours of labor required when discharging theusual type of vessel without the use of my improved method.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced ther upon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a gas purifier embodying an enclosed cylindrical vessel adapted tocontain a solid mass of intersticed purifying material through which thegas is passed, a plurality of inverted frustoconical rings mounted oneabove the other in the lower end of the vessel, the said rings beingprogressively smaller in diameter from the upper most downwards andspaced vertically apart, the upper ring fitting snugly within the vesselto form therewith an annular space and the succeeding rings being spacedfrom the wall of the vessel, inclined notched plates joined to thebottom and side of the vessel and supporting the rings, a gascirculating conduit connected to the lower end of the vessel behind thesaid rings, a second gas circulating conduit connected to the upper endof the vessel, a purifying material discharge outlet in the bottom ofthe vessel, and a plurality of short sections of pipe vertically alignedon a side of the vessel above the rings and providing access to the massof purifying material within the vessel at a plurality of points.

2. In a, gas purifier embodying an enclosed cylindrical vessel adaptedto contain, a solid mass of intersticed purifying material through whichthe gas is passed, a plurality of inverted frustoconical rings mountedone above the other in vertically spaced relation in the lower end ofthe vessel, the upper ring being joined to the side of the vessel andopening toward the bottom of the vessel, the succeeding rings beingprogressively smaller in diameter than the superposed rings and smallerin diameter than the vessel and spaced from the wall thereof at thepoint where the lower rings are installed, the rings and purifyingmaterial adjacent thereto forming with the side of the vessel an annularspace, a gas circulating conduit communicating with the annular space,and a purifying material outlet in the bottom of the vessel.

CHARLES B. GAMBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 936,981 Brantigam Oct. 12, 19091,595,711 Cornelier Aug. 10, 1926 1,672,778 Raflloer June 5, 19281,731,223 Brady Oct. 8, 1929 1,927,059 Bahlke Sept. 19, 1933 2,338,586Keller Jan. 4, 1944 2,385,189 Bowles Sept. 18, 1945

1. IN A GAS PURIFIER EMBODYING AN ENCLOSED CYLINDRICAL VESSEL ADAPTED TOCONTAIN A SOLID MASS OF INTERESTICED PURIFYING MATERIAL THROUGH WHICHTHE GAS IS PASSED, A PLURALITY OF INVERTED FRUSTOCONICAL RINGS MOUNTEDONE ABOVE THE OTHER IN THE LOWER END OF THE VESSEL, THE SAID RINGS BEINGPROGRESSIVELY SMALLER IN DIAMETER FROM THE UPPERMOST DOWNWARDS ANDSPACED VERTICALLY APART, THE UPPER RING FITTING SNUGLY WITHIN THE VESSELTO FORM THEREWITH AN ANNULAR SPACE AND THE SUCCEEDING RINGS BEING SPACEDFROM THE WALL OF THE VESSEL INCLINED NOTCHED PLATES JOINED TO THE BOTTOMAND SIDE OF THE VESSEL AND SUPPORTING THE RINGS, A GAS CIRCULATINGCONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF, THE VESSEL BEHIND THE SAID RINGS,A SECOND GAS CIRCULATING CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF THEVESSEL, A PURIFYING MATERIAL DISCHARGE OUTLET IN THE BOTTOM OF THEVESSEL, AND A PLURALITY OF SHORT SECTIONS OF PIPE VERTICALLY ALIGNED ONA SIDE OF THE VESSEL ABOVE THE RINGS AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE MASS OFPURIFYING MATERIAL WITHIN THE VESSEL AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS.